Come on...give us some tracks to race

[kz2zx]

Every post here is complaining about poor fufilment due to poor staffing due to low revenue flow due to low racer and gate draw.  And a few people are asking about promotion and marketing.

I don't clearly understand the relationship between CCS and CCE.  

What would it take for CCS to ask CCE for some non-rev billboard space in CCS cities - especially the SW cities - promoting TDs and races as safe(r) places to ride your sportbike fast?  Maybe a billboard on a major highway near the track, with a big URL and some updates to the FUSA/CCS webpage with a big friendly link to a page for the new racer?

How about late-night non-rev radio ads?

I think this could be minimal work and expense on CCE's part - I don't know if CCS can afford any such expense and SD seems to beleive "not".

So who are the powers-that-be that could bring it up to CCE?  Could an enterprising and energetic dedicated few racers help facilitate that?  And if you answer "No" - why not?



 

[cstem]

K2- That has been the question of the decade.  Kevin has tried this running every angle he can and it boils down to this- CCE likes to make money.  Therefore thier bean counters will do nothing that will not make them money (fistfulls of it) right off the bat. In thier defense, they are pretty good at it- Monster Trucks, Freestyle and Supercross/Arenacross are perfect examples.  In those sports the flashiest most recognized personalities or teams are paid appearance money by CCE just to walk in the door.  CCE will promote these guys very little themselves and rely on racer sponsors to take care of the rest.  CCE merely provides a place and a sport for sponsors to enter their employees into races so they can advertise their products.  CCE makes its money by putting asses in the seats.    Now, it takes money given to it by sponsors to advertise- and yes CCE pays for airtime on its stations and no we get no discount.  Even though we are part of CCE a midnight ad run (when no one is listening) costs about $300 per spot. That is before rpoduction costs or paying your expert announcer to make the commercial (which I would do for free).  We have done radio ads in the past- and it tanked.  No return on that.  It takes money to make money but CCE gives us next to no money to use for PR.  And I do not care how cool, fast or good looking Mark Ledesma is,  your average person is not coming to see him, you or any other guy race every weekend.  MOST Neckcar fans (if I get any hatemail from Neckcar folks I will hunt you down and pry out your last tooth!)  are not race fans.  They are drama fans who show up to root on thier favorite racer as he punts some dude into the wall and his pit crew rumbles with the other pit crew.  MOST motorcyle racing fans are more civilised, yet as Dave said are there to root for a racer.  Spectators are not the holy grail of happiness for amatuer sports.  More participants is the only thing tnat will fill the CCS coffers enough to give us the clout to go play at expensive places.  We are trying to cultivate that through track days, racer clinics offered at the best prices in the nation and grass roots ads.  We finally got business cards for the SW region.  They are full color and have an action shot of Matt Buck ( SW champ) on one side and the contact info of CCS and the SW schedule on the other side.  If you have not gotten a fistfull of these to toss on street guys bikes at your local college, Pavillions, mall or whatever- I can get you some of these email me cstem@cox.net or call 623-521-2461 (remember what I said about teeth.. or tooth's?) and I will get yousome quick.  They were at the last two races on the table in front of registration and will be again next race.  If you know of an event that would be hospitable, cheap and relative somehow to roadracing, I can try to set up an info kiosk of some sort.  This is how we do it.  CCE's dollars are not going to grace us anytime soon.  So think about it, turn your negative energy into action and let's get this going.  I am always receptive to good suggestions that are thought out- but to post a bitch complaint on here is not the way to do it.  See you at the races- Cory

[Super Dave]

I don't clearly understand the relationship between CCS and CCE.  

What would it take for CCS to ask CCE for some non-rev billboard space in CCS cities - especially the SW cities - promoting TDs and races as safe(r) places to ride your sportbike fast?  Maybe a billboard on a major highway near the track, with a big URL and some updates to the FUSA/CCS webpage with a big friendly link to a page for the new racer?

How about late-night non-rev radio ads?

I think this could be minimal work and expense on CCE's part - I don't know if CCS can afford any such expense and SD seems to beleive "not".

So who are the powers-that-be that could bring it up to CCE?  Could an enterprising and energetic dedicated few racers help facilitate that?  And if you answer "No" - why not?

CCS was purchased by SFX Motorsports in late 1999 to early 2000.  SFX was purchased by CCE like immedately after that.

CCE purchases companies.  It's kind of like a bank account.  If you're money's just sitting there, it should do something and make money.  CCE owns CCS because owning it makes more money than interest in a bank, basically.  If CCS does well, and there would be an available buyer, hey, they get their equity out of it.

Seems as though some don't exactly recognize how making money works.  CCE has radio spots and billboards.  Each one has a cost.  Each one has a price.  Seldom have I listened to the radio when there wasn't something playing.  So, each ad is a customer.  If CCE decides to spend it's money buying ads from itself for CCS...it's gonna loose money.  And how many ads would you need to get CCS to making money?

And if you could get spectators to show up, would they be impressed with the "racing programs" that "teams" were putting forward at an event?  How many people have uniforms outside of the CCS staff to differentiate themselves from spectators?  How about clearly defined team names?  How big are stickers in relationship to actual sponsorship on racing machines?  (Not continency stickers...that's stuff that is "contingent" upon some measure of success).

Really, I don't see that CCS, or CCE has much responsibility in promoting the event.  You want people to check you out...

How many photos or press release packages have you delievered to you "sponsoring dealer"?  Local newspaper?  Radio station?  

In a series that is proliferated with riders that only commit to two to three years...what do you do?


AFM

That is literally the beginning of club motorcycle road racing in the US.  Success?  Yeah, they continue on, but they have a residual of some fifty years of consistent racing in a location.  They are part of the landscape.

WERA

I don't have an exact answer for that, but I know that with their deal with the AMA, they get some sweetheart gigs.  

CCS used to be that way...it was known as AMA/CCS until 1994 when the "new" stickers came out.

Hey, you just needed your AMACCS expert license to race AMA 600 or 750 National Supersport.

[Mongrel]

I kind of have to post here in defense of the SW CCS crew.  I am one of those racers that have been around for 5 years (just barely) and I can tell you there has been one constant up to this time and that has been the commitment of the SW CCS crew.  I use to hate the East track, but in a way it has become a fun little place for me.  I still like the Main even with all its walls.  West now that is a track that I have problems with, probably won't race there, but I will show up to support the racers that do.  I do have to say that the track is much improved from the first time I saw it, but still has issues. Vegas kicks ass, I just wish I could make a race weekend up there again.  Arroyo sounds like fun, but the closest I have come to it was when I pulled into the parking lot to take some pictures of it on my way to Barber.  Knock the tracks, and knock CCE, fine, but you step over a line when you question the drive and commitment of the SW crew.  As far as I am concerned they are the best in all of CCS.  If you don't think you have choices then you are wrong.  You can race with WERA or AFM that is your choice, but for me I am going to continue to support those that have been there for me.

[Stone]

Ok...I have read everything that has been posted. To clarify a few things...

1st I dont think that just because you have been "racing" for 5 years it gives you anymore clarity of the given situtation. I also feel that just because an individual works for free (or low pay) at any organization it doesnt gives them a "free pass" for its lack of performance.

Last, as I did with any company that I have had over the last 17 years... if a team isnt working right and producing in the right direction...at a measured pace.... "Yer fired".

Refering to cstem...I have spoke to the head honcho's with not one single success. As for Heidi...I have one sentence "Work smarter, not harder". As for promoting the races and the calendar cards that are available....No one has approached or announced to my knowledge that they are available in mass quantities to distribute.

I have gone one further to help promote this organization. I have offered numerous times to friends and people that I have ment....come out and try the trackday prior to the races and take my bike for a spin. I am hoping that with one free sample of the track they will get hooked. I will explain this concept a little later in the post.

Lets clarify one thing that comes to mind. I am under the impression that Randy now runs the trackdays prior to the races and...gains the profit from that day. True or false? Be careful how you answer.

Let me throw you a bone that comes off the top of my head that has been working for years. Its the word "free". I have used it time and time again in business and I even think that it has been used in the biblical sense as well..."Cast your bread upon the water and silk shall return"(I think that is how it was said).

There is a track organization that has used it to its fullest with a free trackday with the purchase of a new bike. Have you seen the turnout? Busy, very busy.

Now...take this concept and work it. Go to the pavallions, go to mill, go to the dealers and go to the forums and promote the trackday prior to the races and the races. Simple math buddy...one rider comes, one rider brings friends, they see the racers, the excitement and rider/friends pay admission just to get in to get thier free trackday. Many may do it once, but some will become racers. This all shouldnt be a problem...because everyone works for little or nothing :-X But in the long run...it will bring in a larger number.

Theres one bone for ya. I have made this concept work for 12 years in a business I owned and its working right now in the valley.

Now write me an excuse....

[brian213]

I love the CCS SW crew!  I wish they still came here to CA to race.  :)

I'm looking forward to the FB West event...I hope it's not the same weekend that I have to go to a wedding!

Of course, I'm on a 125 and tight/technical tracks are a bit easier for us than a GSXR 1000 or whatever.

I've raced at Cal Speedway.  I must say that I really dislike the track, it's not fun at all.  It does have garages and power, but that's about it.  FB East is a LOT more fun.  Also, the cost to race there is totally not worth it to me, as a racer.  Forget practicing there...FasTrack, not WERA run that, and it's way not worth it to me.  I've got 2 events which I am not running that I should be, one this weekend at the LVMS infield course and another at Cal Speedway.  The org running those is charging more than I am willing to pay, and that's likely mostly do to the cost to get the track for the weekend, they are NASCAR tracks...I know it isn't cheap...David from WERA has told me what it costs to get Fontana...it's a joke, I can't believe that they are running there again this year, I can't see them making a penny on it.

CCS is the best deal (price wise) for racing for me, even though I have to drive to other states to race...better cost wise, if I were to race more races, than WSMC, which I race every month.

Racing in NM for me?  Not too likely to happen...it's way too far away.

Oh, and Stone, a friend of mine has been racing with about 5 orgs (AFM, WERA, WSMC, CCS, USGPRU) ever since he got a "free" track day when he bought a street bike.  So, that does work!  He spends way too much money doing it, and dropped CCS since they left CA and just dropped WERA for "technical" reasons.  :)

-Brian

[x2468]

all we have in the northeast is NHIS at loudon.....

[racerxgirl]

Hey Dave Stone, It sounds like you have all the answers. Why don't you start your own racing business. You are wrong the way you think.  I have been racing and working with Randy&Heidi and crew for 12 years. Guys like you have come and gone.  One thing for sure, They are a Damm good crew.    That being said,  and this goes for everyone.  If you don't like the program.  Go race somewhere else!

SW New Riders Instructor
john

[Super Dave]

That being said,  and this goes for everyone.  If you don't like the program.  Go race somewhere else!

Ok, I'll out right disagree with that.

Nothing certainly happens in a vacuum.  There are things that can be done to help things work better.  

People with ideas should voice them.  Some ideas have been tried.  Some are revisions of ideas that have been tried.

[brian213]

Is that actually Kim or really John making Kim look scary?

John, get your own login...hee hee...

-Brian

[jewett]

Sorry Brian,  I hate when that happens.  
Super Dave your right.  But sometimes people just complain too much. You and I both know, we never had "trackdays".  You just showed up and raced. Now everyone and there brother, puts on a trackday.  CCS included. So I say, shut up and ride.

[Super Dave]

1st I dont think that just because you have been "racing" for 5 years it gives you anymore clarity of the given situtation.

Stone, I'll run with your stuff here.

Totally agree.  For some people, racing is a few races.  For some it's a lot.  For some, it's one track, for others it's many organizations.

Experience CAN be of value, however, so, it's hard to discount kernals of thought from some...and some might be forwarding huge reality issues.

I also feel that just because an individual works for free (or low pay) at any organization it doesnt gives them a "free pass" for its lack of performance.

Good issue.  Some people with experience comes from people out of the goodness of their heart.  With racing, the trick is, who out there is available that would have any real better answers short of individuals that have been involved in racing?  The whole gig is very fickle.  People have been hired for PR positions in various MC RR orgs with results that did not come from things they did.

Last, as I did with any company that I have had over the last 17 years... if a team isnt working right and producing in the right direction...at a measured pace.... "Yer fired"

True.  Would more money or different people actually change the result though?  Again, generally not.  

As for promoting the races and the calendar cards that are available....No one has approached or announced to my knowledge that they are available in mass quantities to distribute.

Completely and totally agreed.  I have held a CCS license since 1988 too.

I have gone one further to help promote this organization.

Again, I'm not sure why anyone necessarily wants to promote an organization.  I like CCS, and I have worked to do things for racers.  Racers should be the real recipient of anything.  Without racers, there is no need for an organization.  The organization MAKES its money from the racers.  If there are any spectators, their money comes from wanting to see the racers race.  You don't go to a race to watch registration or tech.

I have offered numerous times to friends and people that I have ment....come out and try the trackday prior to the races and take my bike for a spin. I am hoping that with one free sample of the track they will get hooked. I will explain this concept a little later in the post.

Hooked.  I'm interested in that one.

It's been the "end all" answer for all these track day programs and "safety school/racing license" programs;  the more people we get to race, the more popular motorcycle road racing will be.

Again, this is a tried program that hasn't yielded results.  

Racing is the option of individuals that decide that the risk that they involve themselves in (money, health...family, friends)...is the endeavour that they'd like to try to be successful in.

It's a drug that doesn't immediately become addictive to everyone.

If all the track day programs were the answer, racing entries would have sky rocketed.  I don't see it.  But I know that track day programs have grown to out of control proportions.  The result has been that racing organizations have decided that they need to farm out a couple of days to try to get potential track day riders involved earlier with the organization.  

I am under the impression that Randy now runs the trackdays prior to the races and...gains the profit from that day. True or false? Be careful how you answer.

I'm sure it spreads out the cost of the weekend.  Can't answer specifically on it.